One week has passed since Cricket started taking his instructing duties a bit more seriously. While still a bit lazy and tardy to most of his classes, he answers any question given to him and gives easy-to-digest answers. The students have been buzzing, feeling they're learning about and seeing magic and a completely new light thanks to his teachings.
Cricket has even been holding training sessions with the students, helping them practice spellcasting. Some of the more advanced students have been flourishing under his tutorship, such as Julien and Sophie. Sophie especially, who's been studying her water spells in order to fully understand them and gain the ability to visualize them easier. She's already advanced to the point of being able to only need a few words for incantation, which is considered exceptional progress by Cricket. Meanwhile, Julien has been learning and practicing his wind magic, using much larger and more powerful spells than he'd previously been able to.
After classes for the day were dismissed, everyone headed out and back to their dorms. Hours go by as Sophie spends the entirety of her free time alone within her dorm room, her face buried in a book about water magic. She's been completely engrossed in it, completely losing track of time. The sun is beginning to set as evening turns to night.
As she's reading her book at her desk, leaning on her window sill is Julien. He's got a small grin as he stares at her for a few moments; she's completely distracted by her studies, not even noticing his presence. Julien then opens his mouth and begins speaking to her from the window.
"You know, Sophie, sticking your head in a book all day isn't the most healthy thing. You should get out more, my blonde friend."
Sophie turns around and rubs her eyes, a bit surprised for a moment, but then a frown quickly forms on her face as she turns back towards her book.
"You may have broken into my room, but I'll be damned if I'll let you break my focus too, Julien. Beat it before I get you into trouble with the faculty."
"Is that a way to talk to your bestie for restie? I've got to admit, it hurts my heart to hear you sound so cold towards me."
Julien puts on a pouty face as he hops into her room and leans his arm against her desk and starts poking her cheek. Sophie tries to ignore him at first but eventually snaps as she slaps his hand away.
"Ugh! Fine, what do you want?"
"Thank you for asking! I want to go for a night on the town. Me and you. It'd be fun. Let's do it."
"What? Why?"
"Because why not? Look, I get being a student at Hexvale is like your wet dream and all..."
"Eww... don't say it like that."
"Point taken... anywho... we're not only in Hexvale, we're in Aldorma City, one of the most bustling and exciting cities in the whole kingdom. Shouldn't we explore it, at least a little?"
Sophie lets out a great sigh as she slowly turns towards Julien and stands up from her chair. She gives him a large pout before flicking his forehead, walking towards her dresser, and putting on a nice-looking vest.
"Fine, but only if you agree to never sneak into my room again."
"Fairsies, cross my heart, sis."
"Very well, let's go for a stroll or whatever; just don't do anything stupid."
Julien nods with a small giggle. He leaps out her window and says he'll meet her at the front door of the female dorm. After a few minutes, waiting out front, a few girls giving him confused and dirty looks at his presence near the girls' dorm, Sophie comes out. Without even saying a word, she walks past him. He just laughs as he locks step right next to her. They leave the school grounds and head into the city.
They walk through various alleyways and paths, zigzagging through the city. They pass by a few beautiful sites, including a large water fountain that both Sophie and Julien make a wish at. Sophie slowly has lightened up throughout this exploration, almost glowing as she chats with Julien and looks impressed by some of the sights of the city. They begin walking down a busy road with various inns and shops, the streetlights illuminating the area as stars twinkle in the sky. Sophie walks backwards, facing towards Julien, who's walking right behind her, and begins speaking to him.
"I genuinely hate admitting this, but you were right; I needed to get out. The fresh air and sights really rejuvenated me. So... thanks."
"Anytime, partner. After all, I know you best, and one of your biggest problems is... Cricket?"
Sophie blushes slightly at the mention of Cricket at the end. She quickly contorts her face to a pout as she berates Julien slightly.
"Why'd you mention him? I mean, yeah, he is a problem... such a lazy man... barely takes anything seriously, but I mean, just... um... why mention him?"
"I didn't mean... no, I'm saying Cricket as in, he's right over there. At least I think that's him."
Sophie quickly turns around. Several meters away she sees a man who's being yelled at and thrown out of a bar; there's no mistaking it, that is definitely Cricket, still with his same outfit and everything. He looks absolutely hammered. He spouts insults at the man who threw him out as the man brushes his nose off and heads back into the bar. Sophie frowns slightly as she and Julien walk towards him.
"I'm somehow surprised to find you like this in a drunken stupor, and yet not surprised at all. If I'm not mistaken, you're only a year older than us, right? And last I checked, twenty-one was the legal age to drink, not nineteen."
"Nineteen is just a number; walk into a place with enough confidence and you'll get far, dear Sophie. Also, has anyone told you that you have a rocking body?"
Sophie's face contorts into a look of pure rage as he punches Cricket right on the top of his dome. Cricket yelps in pain as he squats on the ground clutching his head.
"You damn pervert! Never talk to me like that again."
Julien just laughs as he helps Cricket to his feet. Cricket sighs as he's lifted to his feet by Julien.
"Damn, Julien, your girl has a right hook on her."
"That she does teach. Anywho, you're looking worse for wear. We can help you get home, right Soph?"
"Ugh! I guess. Damn pervert."
Julien giggles a bit more as Cricket leans on his shoulder, with Sophie walking on the other side of Cricket, still angry about his comment on her while blushing slightly at the same time. Cricket tells Julien the instructions towards his place; they take a couple of quiet backways deep into the city.
"Just a couple more minutes and we'll be there. So... what are you two crazy kids doing out this late at night anyway?"
"Seeing the sights is all, teacher. Sophie always has her head stuck in a book; I just wanted her to get some fresh air."
Cricket laughs a bit, knowing her no-nonsense workaholic side very well at this point through his instruction of them the past two weeks. Sophie just huffs at their remarks. After taking a turn on another road, Cricket suddenly stops, grabbing both Sophie and Julien by the back of the necks.
"Duck!"
In almost an instant Cricket forces both of their heads and his downward. Just then what appears to be a large flame spell goes directly over the trio's heads, much to Julien and Sophie's surprise. The three then turn around to find five cloaked men, each of various heights, each covered in black fabric to hide their identities. They each have a red wolf symbol on the chest portion of their uniforms. Cricket's face contorts into a scowl as he stares down their attackers.
"Excuse me, gentlemen, but may I inquire as to what business you have with me and my students?"
"Students? But you barely look... ugh, whatever, this has nothing to do with you, suspenders guy; we only want the girl."
Sophie steps back slightly, a bit wary and curious why they're after her, as both Julien and Cricket step in front of her in defensive positions.